Lesson M1.1 INTRODUCTORY LESSON for the beginning of each new year Objective: To introduce the five values and help the class to understand them and to feel comfortable with the five teaching components. To agree and follow rules for the lessons and understand how rules help them To recognise how their behaviour will affect others. To listen to others, play and work co-operatively, respect differences, care for each other and not bully. To respect the differences and similarities between people. To recognise types of teasing and bullying and agree not to do it. Key Words: Baobab, grateful, human values, love, meerkat, narrator, non-violence, peace, righteousness (doing right), Thompson gazelle, truth, universal, veldt. Curriculum Links: Citizenship & PSHE at KS1: 1a,b,c. 2a,c. 4 a,b,c,d,e (see pages 7/8). Biology: Animals; Geography: South Africa; Literacy: Fables - morals Word level work: speech marks, narrative; Song - rhymes/rhyming poems Speaking and listening; Drama. Materials needed: • The Manual or copy of lesson plan • Silent sitting exercises from the ‘Introduction’ Manual • CD player • CD 1 track 27 (music for silent sitting) or Silent Sitting CD • CD 1 track 1, or CD M1 track 1, for the song • Copies of the drama script This series of 26 lesson plans can be taught in any order after the first one. Any single lesson plan can be used more than once and can form a spiritual foundation leading to other topics or current news. This will allow the teacher to use the lesson in the most effective way as part of an integrated curriculum. Introduction to the course Explain that the course is about values which help everyone live more happily and in greater harmony with other people, and to know that they are each someone of value. Setting the ground rules An effective way to establish a climate of co-operation and mutual respect in the classroom is to require the pupils to think together about how they will treat each other. Ensure that the ground rules include some version of: • only one person speaks at a time • everyone listens respectfully to the current speaker • no put-downs or name calling • everyone has a right to silence A useful starting point might be: SSEHV: More Lesson Plans for Ages 6 - 8 Years - Lesson M1.1 17 So that everyone can be happy and learn in this class we will ... we will not ... Later in the year remind the children of the original ground rules, ensuring that the finger of blame is not pointed at anyone seeming to have failed. When working together in groups try to ensure that everyone: • feels valued • is encouraged to take an active part • uses humour in ways which do not hurt others. QUOTATION/THEME FOR THE WEEK 1. FRIENDS THAT YOU HELP WHEN TIMES ARE BAD GIVE BACK THAT HELP WHEN YOU ARE SAD Discuss. Can you think of a time when this has happened to you? 2. Five Values Poem by Carole Alderman There are five values that I cannot see Five values that are you and me. The first is Truth, which rings a bell inside, The second Love, to give, not hide. The third is Peace, we feel when mind is still. The fourth is always Doing Right, When out of view, as well as within sight. Fifth, totalling the other four, Is called Non-violence, which means being kind In what we do, and say, and think in mind. Discuss the five values and ask the class what they think each value means. SILENT SITTING In the lesson plans, the Silent Sitting exercise is near the beginning before the story, but it can be practised at any time during the lesson,as the teacher feels appropriate and taking the children’s age and ability into consideration. Explain that the course contains an exercise which is very valuable and enjoyable and will help them to learn better and become happier. It is about being very still and listening, particularly listening to the sounds and feelings inside. Step 1 (The Silent Sitting exercise steps are in the ‘Introduction’ Manual on page 36, alternatively you can use the preliminary exercise on the next two pages). Step 5: Play some music quietly for a minute or two (e.g. CD1 track 27, or flute music from track 5 of the Silent Sitting CD, or music incorporating the sounds of nature e.g. the Song of the Whale, are suitable). Then phase the music out so that the children are sitting for a minute in silence. Step 6. 18 SSEHV: More Lesson Plans for Ages 6 - 8 Years - Lesson M1.1 Pre-silent sitting exercise (from Silent Sitting CD track 1) We are going to do a relaxation exercise. We are going to start by relaxing the body. We have to release any tension we have in the body so that we may feel at ease and relaxed. I will be standing in front of you and show you how it is done. Please stand up. We are going to start with the arms and legs. First we are going to tighten them, then relax them. OK? Tighten the muscles of your arms and legs. Go! Tight! Really tight! Feel the muscles getting really hard! Now relax. Now we are going to release any tension in the stomach. Breath in ..., hold …, and tighten the stomach muscles. Tight, really tight. Feel the muscles getting hard. And relax. Now we are going to do the shoulders. Put the tips of your fingers on the shoulders. Now circle the arms backwards a few times ... And forwards ... And relax. Now we are going to deal with the neck. Do this really slowly. Allow your head to drop gently forward. Turn it to the right in a circular motion. Slowly, slowly round; and back to the front. Now turn it to the left, in a circular motion. Slowly, slowly round; and back to the front. Now we are going to release the tension from the hands and feet. Lean forward a little and allow your arms and hands to drop loosely. Now shake the hands . Good. Now let’s do the same with our feet; one foot at the time. One …, two … And relax. Have we dealt with the whole body? No, we have not done the face. SSEHV: More Lesson Plans for Ages 6 - 8 Years - Lesson M1.1 19 Now stretch all the muscles of your face. Screw up your face muscles and make a really h o r r i b l e face. Ready, go! Please do not put your fingers in your mouth. And relax. Now we are ready to relax our head and our thoughts. Please sit down. I will be asking you to close your eyes; I will play some music and then ask you to imagine something, to see something with your imagination. When your eyes are open, you are distracted by all the things that you see around you. When the eyes are closed, it is easier to concentrate on the music and on the visualization. Now please close your eyes and remain relaxed. This exercise will take only a few minutes ... Step 5 ... Step 6. STORY TELLING THE MEERKAT AND THE LION (based on a traditional story) There was a great lion sleeping under a tree. When disturbed by a meerkat, he roared cruelly And trapping the meerkat beneath his great paws Growled, “Now I will eat you.” And sharpened his claws. “Please let me go free for I’m not very fat And one day I’ll help you, I promise you that.” The poor little meerkat said, trembling with fear. The lion laughed loudly such brave words to hear. nce upon a time, on a hot afternoon in the forest, a lion was Odozing in the shade of a tree. He was not fast asleep, for lions are always on their guard. His lioness had just caught him a good dinner and he was feeling well fed so, for the moment, he meant no harm to anyone. Then, from behind a rock crept a little meerkat. He was just an ordinary meerkat and he wasn’t going anywhere in particular. He felt rather hot and was busy searching for some shade. 20 SSEHV: More Lesson Plans for Ages 6 - 8 Years - Lesson M1.1 First one way and then another he darted, but wherever he went, the ground was hot beneath his paws, and he hopped to and fro unhappily. Then suddenly he found himself in a cool spot. “Ah,” he thought happily. “This is just the place I’ve been looking for.” He was so happy to be out of the sun that he never noticed the big, tawny figure that was already stretched out nearby. “You should pay more attention to where you are going!” said a deep voice. And before the meerkat quite knew what had happened, a huge shaggy paw came down on top of him. The poor little meerkat found that he could only peer out between a row of cruel claws, and when he plucked up enough courage to look between them, he nearly fainted with fright. “A lion!” he cried. “It’s a lion!” “It is indeed,” said the lion. And he raised his great paw just enough to allow the meerkat to move away a few inches before he dropped it down on him again. For cats all like to play. “Please lion,” the meerkat cried. “Please let me go.” The lion sniffed at him thoughtfully, as though trying to make up his mind whether to eat him or not.